Sectional desk



Aug 75 1955 R. F. KozELKA 2,757,996

sEcToNAL pEsx Filed April 50, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l are;

Ail@ 7, 1956 R. F. KozELKA 2,757,996

k sEcTIoNAL DESK Filed April so, 1954 2 Susie-sheet 2 Pf6- 6 INVENTOR.

Pas-'err F. Kaza-K4 ArraEA/E V6 United States Patent SECTIONAL DESK Robert F. Kozelka, Springfield, Ill.

Application April 30, 1954, Serial No. 426,644

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-4) This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to desks of the type adapted for use by students.

It is the principal object of this invention to Vprovide a desk for use by students operating business and oliice machines, wherein the students require an adjoining llat working or table top area in addition to the table top supporting surface for the business or office machine upon which they are receiving training, and in which the desk is of compact construction, made of inexpensive lightweight material and occupying a minimum oftotal floor space per student.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a desk for use by students which is formed from a pluralitylof simply constructed parts and which may be shipped in knock-down condition for erection at the place of use so that a minimum of storage and shipping space will be occupied.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide `a desk of simple construction yet rugged and durable in use, and of relatively low cost which will answer a recognized need in the field to which it is to be applied. j

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desk this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on Aline 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but embodying CTI with the working or table tops removed toshow the structure of the support for the table tops;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of the desk; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, one form of a desk, generally indicated at 10, of this invention. The desk 10 includes a first horizontal table top support member defined by a pair of spaced parallel bars or rails 12 and 14 which are identical and of the saine length, and disposed at a predetermined level above the floor. A second horizontal table top support member is defined by the spaced parallel bars or rails 16 and 18 which are of similar shape and length and are disposed at a predetermined level from the door than the level `at which the first support member is disposed, the second support member being lower than the first support member.

The bars 16 and 18 of the second support member have one end 20 and 22 respectively joining respective ends 24 and 26 of the bars 12 and 14 dening kthe lirst support member and disposed in angular relation thereto with the bars 16 and 18 disposed immediately below the bars l2 and 14 at the adjoining ends, with the re- Arice spective pairs of bars extending in angular relation longitudinally from the adjoining ends thereof.

A support leg 28 in the form of a solid, flat piece having the side edges thereof symmetrically tapering downwardly from an intermediate location between the upper end Sil and the lower end 32 thereof, with the bars 12 and 14, defining the `first support member, being secured to the leg 28 at their ends remote from the ends 24 and 26 respectively as by screws or other suitable fastening means adjacent the upper end 30 of the leg 28 so that the first support member is supported at one end remote from the end thereof adjoining the second frame member upon the leg 28.

A similar support leg 34 has the ends of the bars 16 and 18, defining the second support member, supported thereon adjacent the upper end 36 thereof by being secured upon the opposite longitudinal edges of the leg.

It will be observed, that the ends of the bars 16 and 18 are supported upon the leg 34 at the end thereof remote from the ends 20 and 422 respectively and at a location somewhat spaced from the upper end 36 of the leg while the end of the bars 12 and 14 remote from the respective ends 24 and 26 thereof are supported upon the leg 28 along opposite longitudinal edges thereof in such manner as tohave the upper longitudinal edges of the bars 12 and 14 be coplanar with the top surface of the upper end 30 of the leg. Thus, it will be seen that the second support member is disposed at a different and lower level from the lioor than the level at which the l first support member is disposed with the adjoining ends of the support members being disposed in the relation `shown in Figure 4 wherein the ends 2l) and 22 are irnmedi-ately below the ends 24 and 26. l

An intermediateleg 38 similar to the legs 2S and 34 is angularly disposed between the adjoining and overlapping edges of the first and second frame support members and the opposite longitudinal edges of the intermediate support 38 afford surfaces to which the terminal ends of the bars or rails 14 and 18 may be secured as by screws or other suitable fastening means so as to be supported thereon, while the bars or rails 12 and 16 may be similarly secured as by screws or other suitable fastening means to the leg 38 but at a location remote from the terminal ends of the respective bars remote from the respective support legs 28 and 34, as shown in Figure 4. The leg 38 will normally be disposed at a forty-five degree angle in the space defined between the overlapped and adjoining ends of the respective first and second table top support members with these horizontally disposed members being shown as being disposed in right angular relation with respect to each other, however, this angular relation vmay be varied to meet particular situations.

A first table top or support surface 4l) is supported upon the first support member, defined by the rails or bars 12 and 14 and extends from the terminal ends 24 and 26 of the respective rails to overhang the leg 28 at the other end thereof and overhang or extend beyond the support mernrber along its longitudinal extent and since the tabletop 40 is somewhat greater in width than the `distance between the bars 12 and 14.

`the width of the second table top or support surface 48 which is supported upon the second support member defined by the bars or rails 16 and 1S and of somewhat greater width so that the longitudinal edges thereof extend or overhang to either side of the second support member at the end 58 of the table top 48 being coterminous with the distal end of the respective bars 16 and 18 remote from the first support member.

Thus, it will be apparent that the second table top will be disposed at a level lower than the level at which the first table top is disposed.

The skirt 42 may be considered to be a side support for the table top 40, and carries on its outer face a pair of spaced parallel, outwardly projecting guide strips 52 and 54 defining a table top receiving groove 56 for receiving therein one end of a table top similar to the second table top 48, and the guide strips extend longitudinally of the skirt 42 for substantially its entire longitudinal length. A similar pair of guide strips 58 and 6) are carried adjacent the upper end 36 of the leg 34 in spaced parallel relation on the leg 34 and defining therebetween a table top receiving groove 62 which is in the same horizontal plane as the groove 56. Thus, it will be apparent that the table top may be received at its opposite transverse ends within the respective grooves 56 and 62 so as to be disposed at a level somewhat higher than the level it would assume when supported directly upon the second support member, and as shown in broken lines in Figure 3.

It is contemplated that the student will be seated in the position where he will face the longitudinal edge 44 of the table top 40 and the adjoining longitudinal edge of the table top 48, so that the business machine or ofiice machine upon which the student is to practice and receive instructions may be placed upon the table top or supporting surface 48 while the table top 40 affords a fiat working area for the various papers and instructional material required for the student and disposed in a convenient relation both to the student and to the office or business machine upon which he is to operate. In addition, depending on the particular type of office or business machine, the student can make this arrangement more convenient by adjusting the height of the table top 48 by inserting the same in the aligned table top-receiving grooves 56 and 62.

It is contemplated that the desk 10 shown in Figures l through 4 may be constructed of wood or similar material.

With regard to the form of the desk, generally indicated at 64, the same general conception is involved as that involved in the construction of the form shown in Figures 1 through 4. Specifically, the modified form of the desk 64 may be made of sheet metal, suitably formed, or other metallic material having light weight properties and sufiicient strength for the purpose intended. The desk 64 has a first horizontally disposed table top support member 66 which is channel-shaped in cross section and provided with a longitudinally projecting tongue 68 at one end thereof which is to be secured to the upper surface 70 of an elevated portion 72 of a second horizontally disposed table top support member, generally indicated at 74.

The support member 74 also includes a table top support section 76 which extends longitudinally from the elevated portion 70 in a direction away from the end 78 of the member 74 to which the tongue 68 may be secured as by a bolt 80 and a suitable nut therefor 82. The support members 66 and 74 extend in angular relation to each other with the table top support section 76 of the support member 74 being disposed at a predetermined level below the level at which the support member 66 and the elevated portion 72 are disposed.

A tubular leg, which is indicated at 84, and is generally square in cross section, supports thereon at the upper end thereof one end 67 of the first support member 66 while a similar support leg 86, of lesser height, supports at its upper end, the end of the support member 74 remote from the end 78 thereof. An intermediate leg 88, similar in height to the leg 84, supports at the top or upper end thereof the end 78 of the member 74. The ends of the respective members v66 and 74 which are supported upon the respective legs 84, 86, and 88 may be secured thereto as by welding. Also, it will be noted that the support member 74 is also channelshaped in cross section, similarly to the cross sectional shape to which the support member 66 has been shaped.

A first table top 90 is of flat sheet material and gencrally rectangular in form and is adapted to overlie and be supported upon the support member 66 and the elevated portion of the support member 74 and be secured thereto as by suitable fasteners, such as screws, passing through suitably formed apertures in the face of bight portions of the support members so as to provide a level table top or working area. A skirt 91, similar to the skirt 42, is dependingly carried by the longitudinal edge of the table top remote from the longitudinal edge adjacent the support member 66, and extends lon` gitudinally therealong from the terminal end thereof to a location intermediate the ends of the table top and of the width equal to the width of the second table top 92. The rear face of the skirt 91, which also serves the purpose of a side support or piece, is disposed adjacent its end, which is in alignment with the end of the table top 90, against the shoulder '77 defined by the connecting portion of the support member 74 between the elevated portion 70 and the table top supporting section 76 and may be secured thereto by any suitable securing means.

The table top 92 is adapted to be supported upon and extend horizontally from the upper surface of the table top support section 76 of the support member 74 and may be secured thereto by any suitable means. The table top 92 may overhang the section 76 at the end thereof supported upon the leg 86 and also at the sides of the section 76. With regard to this overhang, the same will be true of the table top 90 with respect to the frame support members upon which it is supported in a horizontally disposed position.

A flange 94 of fiat sheet material and having converging lower side portions, is secured to the side of the leg 86 remote from the side facing the leg 88 as by a pair of bolts 95 and suitable nuts received in the threaded end of the bolts. The flange 94 is disposed in a vertical and is disposed to extend laterally to either side of the leg 86 and above the upper surface of the table top support section 76. That portion of the flange 94 which extends above the section 76 carries thereon a pair of spaced parallel, horizontally disposed strips 96 which project laterally therefrom toward the leg 88 and define therebetween a table top receiving groove 97. A similar pair of laterally projecting, spaced, parallel, horizontally disposed strips 98 are carried by the face of the skirt 91 remote from the leg 88 and facing toward the strips 96. The strips 98 define therebetween the table top receiving groove 99 which is in the same horizontal plane as the groove 97 so that a table top, similar to the table top 92, or the table top 92 may be received therein at the opposite ends thereof in the manner shown in Figure 3 of the form of the invention shown in Figures l through 4. Thus, the elevation of the lower table top or support surface may be raised to accommodate different types of machines for the convenience of the student or operator while the table top 90 defines a work surface, upon which instructional material or other pertinent matter may be laid out for ready reference.

[n the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6. the student or person using the desk, after it has been assembled in the manner hereinbefore described` will be in the same relation thereto as to the desk i0 of the form of the invention shown in Figures l through 4. Also, in both forms of the invention, it will be readily appreciated that the lower level table top or support surface may be disposed to the side opposite to that shown in the present illustration by merely reversing the various parts and elements thereof.

While there are shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A desk comprising a first horizontal table top support member disposed at a predetermined level, a second horizontal table top support member having one end adjoining and in angular relation to one end of said first member and disposed at a lower predetermined level, a first support leg upon which the other end of said first member is supported, a second support leg upon which the other end of said second member is supported, an intermediate leg disposed at the juncture of said first ends and upon which said first ends are supported, a first table top carried by said rst member, and a second table top car ried by said second member disposed at a lower level than said first table top with said table tops in angular relation relative to each other, said rst support member including a pair of spaced bars, and said second support member including a pair of spaced bars in overlapping relation at said one end to said one end of said first-mentioned pair of bars and disposed therebeneath, a skirt carried by said first table top adjacent said second table top, a pair of spaced strips carried by said skirt defining a groove therebetween, and a pair of spaced strips carried by said second leg above said second support member defining therebetween a groove in alignment with said first-mentioned groove for receiving a table top therein to extend therebetween at a higher level than said second table top.

2. A desk comprising a first horizontal table top support member disposed at a predetermined level, a second horizontal table top support member having one end adjoining and in angular relation to one end of said first member and disposed at a lower predetermined level, a iirst support leg upon which the other end of said first member is supported, a second support leg upon which the other end of said second member is supported, an intermediate leg disposed at the juncture of said first ends and upon which said first ends are supported, a first table top carried by said first member, and a second table top carried by said second member disposed at a lower level than said first table top with said table tops in angular relation relative to each other, said first support member including a pair of spaced bars, and said second support member including a pair of spaced bars in overlapping relation at said one end to said one end of said iirstmentioned pair of bars and disposed therebeneath, said intermediate leg being angularly disposed within the space defined by the overlapping adjoining ends of said pairs of bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,059,464 Hine Apr. 22, 1913 1,110,948 Langdon sept. 15, 1914 1,585,102 Langdon May 18, 1926 1,850,420 Schuldt Mar. 22, 1932 

